Apparatus for the conversion of metal



May 11, 1937. R. s. QUINN APPARATUS FOR THE CONVERSION OF METAL Filed July 25, 1936 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 IIIIIJ III-III:

OBEET 5 QUINN? May 11, 1937. R. S. QUINN 2,079,872

APPARATUS FOR THE CONVERSION OF METAL Filed July 25, 1936 4 Sheets-Sheet H EOBEET 5. Qu/N/v,

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7 May 11, 1937. R, QU|NN 2,079,872

APPARATUS FOR THE CONVERSION OF METAL Filed July 25, 1936 4 Sheets-Sheet- 4 EOBEET 5 Qu/N/v,

e|1 ba /anion Patented May 11, 1937 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE APPARATUS FOR- THE CONVERSION OF METAL Robert S. Quinn, Steubenville, Ohio Application July 25, 1936, Serial No; 92,668 3 Claims. (01. 266

' metal and slag into a ladle and then teeming the metal from beneath -the slag during casting. Other objects may be inferred from the following disclosure of a specific example of the invention.

Referring to the drawings:

Figure 1 is a vertical section of a Bessemer converter in charging position.

Figure 2 shows the mouth portion of this converter but illustrates a different operating phase.

Figure 3 is the same as Figure 2 excepting that the converter is in pouring position.

Figure 4 is an end elevation of the mouth of the converter.

Figures 5 and 6 are, respectively, an elevation and a section taken from the lines V-V and VI-V'I in Figure 4.

Figure '7 is a horizontal section taken from the line-VII-VII in Figure 6.

Figures 8 and 9 are, respectively, a planand an end elevation of the converter.

The converter illustrated by the above is conventional in that it includes the usual vessel l provided with a tilting mechanism 2 and having an outlet or mouth 3 through which the vessel may be charged and steel may be poured. Fig- "ure 1 shows the vessel tilted to charging position while Figure 3 shows it in pouring position, the

' latter figure illustrating the ladle 4 which receives the steel.

The slag that floats on the steel is usually allowed to pour into the ladle 4 along with the steel. Casting is conducted by teeming so that only steel enters the molds. However, when the steel and the slag are poured into the ladle 4 there is considerable mixing action which results in some of the slag being entrapped by the steel to such an extent that it never separates. Hence, when this steel is teemed it contains inclusions which may result in unsound castings. The present invention is intended to eliminate or to a large extent reduce the trouble from this source.

. Continuing, diametrically opposite sockets 5 are fixed to the outside of the vessel I adjacent its edge surrounding its mouth 3, this and whatever is described from here on not being conventional. These sockets 5 are so arranged that a bar 6 having pins 1 at its ends may be mounted transversely across the mouth 3 of the vessel l by insertion of the pins 1 into the sockets 5. This provides a quick-detachable fastening for the bar 6 which permits fastening and unfastening of the bar 6 respecting the vessel I.

'This bar 6 is part of a slag skimmer in that it mounts a series of proximately positioned bricks 8 arranged transversely against the inside of the bar, this placing these bricks in vertical positions. The two extreme end bricks 8 are somewhat longer than the others and have edges shaped to provide bearing surfaces against the lining at the mouth of the vessel I. This spaces the other bricks from the lower part of the mouth lining; All of the bricks are provided with mutually registering transverse holes 9 in which metal anchors III are positioned, the bricks and the bar 6 being provided with registering bolt holes and the anchors l being provided with threaded holes which register with these bolt holes, this permitting the passage of bolts II which pass from the outside of the bar 6 through the bricks and into threaded engagement with the anchors Hi. In this manner the series of bricks are firmly anchored to the bar 6 in their proper relationship. .A refractory plate H"- isbolted across the outside of the bar 6 so as to protect it against heat when the vessel is pouring.

A jib-crane I2 is positioned adjacent the converter and provides a swinging jib l3 mounting hoisting drums l4 from which chains I depend so as to suspend the bar 6 and hence the slag skimmer just described. The drums l4 are powered by a motor unit l6 while the mast of the crane may be rotated by a motor unit l1.

In operation, the converter is charged and the conversion conducted in the usual manner. During this time the slag skimmer is hoisted up and swung out of the way by means of the jib-crane. When ready for the pouring operation the vessel l is tilted to charging position, the jib 13 of the crane is swung over the mouth of the vessel and the skimmer is lowered by operation of the motor unit It. By properly arranging the various factors involved it is an easy matter to drop the skimmer so that the pins 1 enter the sockets 5 whereby the skimmer is fastened in slag-skimming association with the mouth 3 of the vessel l. The motor unit It is further operated to slacken the chains l5 sufliciently so that when the vessel I is further turned to pouring position, as in Figure 3, there is no tightening of the chains [5 which might pull the skimmer out of place.

During pouring the slag will be held back while the steel will pour through the space beneath the bricks 8 provided by the action of, the end bricks 8. Therefore. the ladle 4 will contain only steel and will not be mixed with any slag. After pouring, the vessel can be turned to charging position and the jib-crane used to remove the skimmer and swing it out of the way. This keeps 5 the skimmer from interfering with other operations and permits its repair if required. When the skimmer is removed the vessel I may be completely inverted so that the slag it contains may be dumped into a suitable receptacle. The ves- 10 Se] is then turned to charging position and the cycle repeated.

I claim: 1. The combination of a Bessemer converter I vessel, a slag-skimmer for the mouth of said 15 vessel, means for fastening said skimmer in skimming association with the mouth of said vessel and which fastens or unfastens upon vertical movement of said skimmer respecting said vessel when the latter is tilted, and raising and lowering 20 means for suspending said skimmer, the last named means being adapted to bring said skimmer into said association with said mouth by vertical movement so that the first named means can function, and including a horizontally swinging mount which functions to permit said skimmer to be swung out of the Way when it is not in use.

2. A skimmer for the converted metal outlet of a metallurgical converter, including the combina tion of a bar adapted to be fastened across said outlet, a series of bricks arranged transversely against the inside of said bar, anchors for said bricks, said bricks having openings receiving said anchors and said bricks and said bar having registering bolt holes leading to said anchors, the latter having threaded holes registering with said bolt holes, bolts passed through said bolt holes into threaded engagement with said holes in said anchors and a layer of heat insulating material secured to and protecting the outside of said bar.

3. A skimmer for the converted metal outlet of a metallurgical converter, including the combination of a bar adapted to be fastened across said outlet, and bricks mounted by said bar so as to skim slag from metal pouring through said outlet, the lower edges of the end bricks being below the lower edges of the bricks therebetween, whereby said end bricks form legs.

' ROBERT S. QUINN. 

